Year: 2024

A Journey Beyond Borders with Valentina Tamborra & Fujicolor Velvet Paper

by M. Köster November 21, 2024 Comments0

This summer, in the heart of Milan Malpensa’s Photosquare, millions of travellers could find themselves transported far beyond the airport’s polished halls – right to the Arctic wilderness. As part of the European Photographic Festival 2023, a unique exhibition AHKAT-TERRAMADRE presented captivating works of the X-Photographer Valentina Tamborra. Now, her work continues to travel and touch new audiences.

This photographic journey takes us to the far reaches of the Arctic, specifically Finnmark, where she gives voice to the Sami people, an indigenous community that has long been marginalized. Her project, I Nascosti (The Hidden Ones), is a profound exploration of identity, displacement, and connection — a delicate narrative that spans over four years of work and a trilogy of stories about the Arctic region. In her work, Tamborra reflects on her own feelings of loss and identity, drawing parallels between her personal history and the people she documents. Growing up on the border of Slovenia, she lost her grandmother’s language, which inspired her empathy for the Sami, a population divided by the borders of four nations: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia.

“I know the tearing grief of a denied identity. I know the shame and the need to lie, to hide, to omit. And then I know the relief of finallylooking in the mirror for the first time in years and realizing that there is no need for labels, there are no right places and wrong places, no belongings to flaunt and others to hide. There is only us, with our load of humanity, of life, of all that we have been, are, and will be. There is us, and we no longer have to hide. Or at least, that is how it should be,”

Valrentina Tamborra, X-Photographer.

© https://www.originalphotopaper.com/

© Valentina Tamborra

The images, captured with Fujifilm X-Series and GFX medium format cameras, have been beautifully printed on Fujicolor Velvet paper, offering a tactile and visual experience that deepens the connection to these stories. The delicate texture of the paper enhances the emotional depth of her work, preserving the fragile, raw beauty. Each photograph here is a fragment of a larger, ongoing dialogue, and also a tool of memory, connection, and, ultimately, preservation of stories that might otherwise remain hidden.

Filed under Be Inspired Blog Photography X-Photographer

Women4Inclusion: celebrating diversity with the new issue

by mariiabezpala November 13, 2024 Comments0

What does it mean to be seen, heard, and understood? For many, this isn’t a given – it’s a fight. We believe in embracing the unique experiences that make each of us who we are. And the latest issue of our Women4Women magazine, brings this ethos to life.

This edition, Women4Inclusion, is truly special. Bigger than ever, it gathers voices of our employees and external contributors from all across the globe telling their journeys towards diversity, equity, and inclusion. These voices, from different cultures, backgrounds, and industries, unite in a common belief that true strength lies in the unique selves, each having a seat at the table. Their stories are raw and unapologetic. Each brings something deeply personal and transformative, showing what it means to live and breathe diversity.

You’ll meet people whose lives and work break down societal biases, those finding strength in their community, or those who had to hard-earn self-acceptance confronting prejudice and discrimination. They all remind us that identity is not something to be hidden or explained but something to be embraced fully.

“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are not themes, but calls to action for each of us. The stories we find in this magazine release an incredible positive force, and it is this force that we must express to aspire to a better society,”

— Yoshiki Kimura, President & Managing Director at Fujifilm Europe.

“By shedding light on the stories of real people, exploring their experiences, and examining the effects of diverse and inclusive practices, we aim to inspire our readers, calling them to action. Within the pages of our Women4Inclusion, we will delve into various aspects of culture, habits, perspectives and actions that are key to achieving a more diverse and inclusive society. We firmly believe that sharing these narratives will challenge preconceptions, stimulate authentic conversations and ultimately pave the way for positive change at Fujifilm,”

— Luana Porfido, European Head of Corporate Communication & ESG Management, Fujifilm Europe GmbH.

Also, we are proud to feature photos of our X-Photographers — Valentina Tamborra (Italy), Dorota Kaszuba (Poland), Ewa Meissner (Poland), Karolina Jonderko (Poland), Silvia Pogoda (Poland) — as well as works of a talented photographer from the UK, Amin Islam McDonald. Their photos capture raw emotion of people on the margins with a striking honesty and frame diversity in its most authentic form, each bringing their unique style.

We invite you to take a moment, read these stories, and let them inspire you to look beyond the familiar, to recognize and value the full spectrum of human differences, and more than that — to join us fostering a culture of belonging where people from all backgrounds feel welcomed and valued. Inclusion doesn’t just happen because diverse individuals are present. It happens when people feel they are truly part of the team — and this is an ongoing journey we are all part of.

Filed under Be Inspired Blog Spotlight X-Photographer

Do you also smell freshly baked cinnamon rolls in the kitchen?

by M. Köster November 12, 2024 Comments0

It immediately reminds you of cosy afternoons – the perfect break in your daily routine. However stressful the day is, a short break with a hot cup of coffee and a cinnamon rolls makes everything better. In Sweden, this delicious pastry is celebrated on 4 October, which is ‘Kanelbullens dag’ – Cinnamon roll Day.

But it’s not just about cinnamon rolls, there’s a bigger thing behind it called Fika. It is a Scandinavian tradition that emphasises the importance of sharing and togetherness. This means taking a short break in the afternoon to enjoy coffee (and, of course, cinnamon rolls!) with colleagues. Sometimes it is precisely these little breaks that give rise to the best ideas and bring us closer together as a ‘second family’. So, we were happy to jump on the wave and sweaten the day at our headquarters!

Every day can be a Cinnamon Roll Day

What could be better than homemade vegan cinnamon rolls? Exactly. All you need is a good company and a quick, simple recipe. The first thing is on you, we can help with the second. Here is our favourite recipe so that you can bring some cinnamon roll magic into your office.

Dough:

60g vegan margarine
180ml vegetable milk (e.g. oat drink)
½ cube fresh yeast (approx. 21 g; alt.: 1 packet dry yeast)
400g wheat or spelt flour
50g sugar
1 packet vanilla sugar
½ tsp salt
1 tsp vegan yoghurt (e.g. with vanilla flavouring)
2 tsp vegan whipping cream for brushing

Filling:

120g soft vegan butter
80g (brown) sugar
1 tsp Ceylon cinnamon

Frosting:

75g room temperature vegan cream cheese
20g room temperature vegan butter
1 tsp icing sugar

Step 1. Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm plant-based milk. Knead with butter, flour, sugar, vanilla sugar, salt and yoghurt to form a smooth dough and let rise for 45 minutes.

Step 2. Roll out the dough and spread with the filling made from vegan butter, sugar and cinnamon. Roll up tightly and cut into 2 cm thick rolls.

Step 3. Place in a greased tin, leave to rise for 20 minutes and then bake at 180 °C (top/bottom heat) for about 20 minutes.

Step 4. Brush with vegan cream cheese frosting made from vegan cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar and enjoy!

Let yourself be inspired, try out the recipe, and maybe we can celebrate the next Cinnamon Roll Day together – joined by delicious pastry in hands and a good conversation!

P.S. Thanks to Jonna for her active support 🙂

Filed under Be Inspired Blog

Beyond the action: GF500mmF5.6 x Federico Tardito

by mariiabezpala July 10, 2024 Comments0

When we think of iconic moments in sports, what often comes to mind are grand victories and high-stakes moments. But it’s also the subtle, fleeting instances of raw emotion and personal significance that can make a photograph truly unforgettable. For instance, when Oleksandr Usyk took over Tyson Fury in the epic fight for the title of the absolute champion in heavy weight, all eyes were on Fury’s face changing in disbelief – as well as all faces from the front row. Would it be possible to capture that blink-and-you-miss-it expression without today’s high-speed gear? Obviously, not. Neither would have we seen in detail Cristiano Ronaldo’s tears after his penalty miss at Euro 2024, or Yaroslava Mahuchikh crying in a jump after setting a new world record in Paris.

These moments exemplify the power of high-end sports photography equipment. Today, with the introduction of the GF500mmF5.6 lens, a new chapter in sports and action photography is being written.

An Italian sports photographer, Federico Tardito, has tried what’s possible with the large format GFX100 II camera combined with a 500mm focal length of GF500mmF5.6 lens in his recent project. For this test-drive, he chose one of the most challenging and complex team sports to try the autofocus – American football. Armed with the new lens and the GFX100 II, he contacted the Torino Giaguaro team, which plays in the top Italian American football league.

“Unlike football – which is the discipline I usually work with – the players are much closer together and the movements are much less orderly and predictable, not to mention the fact that there are many players moving in front of the subject, which makes tracking the camera and lens anything but easy. (…) After attending a couple of their training sessions to thoroughly understand the movements, and the players and game dynamics, I found myself shooting my first sports competition with a large format. This was finally possible thanks to the GF500mmF5.6.”

The GF500mmF5.6 is the longest telephoto prime among all GF lenses. Despite the very long focal length, it remains extremely lightweight, especially when compared to other 400mm lenses in 35mm format. This makes the lens very easy to handle during the game. Above that, it has a reliable weather sealing, which is a must-have when working outdoors.

“I often work at the maximum aperture to isolate the subjects better, and the performance at maximum aperture of the new lens thrilled me from the first use: the blur effect is truly pleasant and allows for perfect isolation of the subject from the background and scene distractions.”

Despite its small size and light weight, there’s absolutely no compromise about image quality. The GF500mmF5.6 offers one of the best resolution in the line-up. It is also equipped with a powerful 6.0 stops image stabilization system and a high-speed AF drive system with linear motors, which enables comfortable handheld shooting with minimum camera shake and overturns the conventional wisdom of large-format.

“The best part comes during editing. The files from the GFX100 II, paired with the GF500mmF5.6, are truly stunning. The latitude of exposure is incredible and allows for recovering highlights or shadows that are too closed even using only JPEG. The detail is remarkable, and so is the sharpness. The 102MP of the camera allows for an almost infinite freedom of cropping, and different versions of the same frame can be obtained simply by cropping the image differently, which becomes an additional very useful resource during work delivery.“

“I chose to work with the Eterna Cinema film simulation. This way, I could take advantage of all the speed of JPEG while maintaining a file rich in detail and extremely workable.”

Find more to the story here.

Federico Tardito

A professional sportrs and portrait photographer, founder of One+Nine Images. Works as a personal photographer for soccer players Leonardo Bonucci and Gigi Buffon. Collaborated with renowned agencies like LaPresse, Insidefoto, as well as famous brands like Nike and Adidas. His photos are published in various international magazines and newspapers, such as Vanity Fair, Vogue, Panorama, The Globe, Sportweek, etc.

Filed under Be Inspired Blog Consumer Photography Portrait Sport X-Photographer

Capture the Thrill of Two Wheels

by M. Köster July 8, 2024 Comments0

Riding a bike isn’t just a mode of transportation — it’s a passion, a sport, and a lifestyle. From the adrenaline rush of BMX and MTB stunts to the serene beauty of a gravel bike ride through nature, it offers endless photographic opportunities. Whether you’re capturing the speed of a race or the tranquility of a countryside ride, the right equipment can make all the difference. FUJIFILM’s X-Series cameras are designed to help you capture every moment with stunning clarity and creativity.

Each type of bike — be it a BMX, MTB, gravel bike, or cargo bike — tells a unique story. The dynamic movements, rugged terrains, and urban landscapes provide a rich canvas for photographers. A commercial and editorial photographer and filmmaker, Bert Stephani, knows it firsthand. Aiming to strike a balance between authentic reportage and cinematic visuals, he took our new flagship camera, the FUJIFILM X-H2S, on a gravel biking journey to test it out – and found his perfect partner in crime.

Maximize your shots with FUJIFILM X-Series

FUJIFILM X-Series cameras are renowned for their exceptional image quality, versatility, and ease of use, making them ideal for bicycle photography. Below, we’ve gathered several tips on how you can use FUJIFILM X-Series products to elevate your bicycle photography.

Fast Autofocus:

Whether you’re shooting a high-speed BMX trick or a mountain biker navigating a rocky trail, the fast and accurate autofocus of the FUJIFILM X-Series ensures you never miss a moment.

High Resolution: 

Capture every detail of your ride with the impressive resolution offered by the FUJIFILM X-Series. The sharpness and clarity bring your photos to life.

Versatile Lenses: 

From wide-angle lenses that capture expansive landscapes to telephoto lenses that zoom in on the action, Fujifilm’s range of lenses allows you to adapt to any photographic scenario.

Compact and Durable: 

The lightweight and durable design of FUJIFILM X-Series cameras means they can withstand the rigors of any biking adventure, from urban streets to mountain trails.

Film Simulation Modes: 

Our unique film simulation modes let you add a creative touch to your photos, mimicking the look of classic film stocks.

Pål Laukli | X-H1, XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR | F2 | 1/125 sec. | ISO 100
Pål Laukli | X-H1, XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR + 1.4x F2 | F2.8 | 1/1000 sec. | ISO 100

Tips for stunning bicycle photography

A little detail can change the whole perception of the shot. Sometimes, the play of light and shadow or the right angle can make a huge difference. However, the challenge is also to show the sense of speed and freezing the moment in time that tells a story. So, how to take bicycle photographs that evoke the emotion, making you stop and stare?

Timing is Key:

Shoot during the golden hour (just after sunrise or before sunset) to capture soft, warm lighting.

Composition Matters:

Use leading lines, such as bike trails or roads, to draw the viewer’s eye into the image.

Action Shots:

Pan with the movement of the cyclist to create a sense of speed and motion.

Tell a Story:

Capture the environment and the rider’s expression to convey the emotions and story behind the ride.

Bicycle photography is a rewarding and exciting genre that allows you to combine your love of cycling with your passion for photography. With FUJIFILM X-Series cameras, you have the perfect tools to capture the essence of every ride. So grab your camera, hop on your bike, and start creating stunning visual stories today.

Get inspired

To view examples of stunning bicycle photography shot with FUJIFILM X-Series cameras from around the globe, check out our Pinterest widget. Here, you can learn about inspiring user-generated content and find ideas to start on your own bicycle photography adventure!

Featured image by Daniele Molineris.

Filed under Be Inspired Blog Consumer Photography Sport Travel Tutorials

Understanding the big picture: Wako Chemicals at DGHM 2024

by mariiabezpala July 3, 2024 Comments0

What is the first thing you imagine when thinking about climate change? Usually, our mind jumps to the dramatic images – melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. It’s all true. These are the visible, large-scale effects that grab our attention. However, there’s also another side to this story, one that’s equally important yet often overlooked: the impact on the microscopic world of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, so the unseen majority. They are everywhere – in the air, soil, water, and even inside our bodies. Thus, such global changes as climate change, shifting ecosystems, or the rise of drug-resistant pathogens have profound impact on microbiology and infection biology.

By recognizing and addressing these effects, we can better protect our health. And the 7th Joint Microbiology & Infection Conference of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM) and the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) offered a unique platform for this. From June 2nd to 5th, our Fujifilm Wako Chemicals Europe team met with internationally renowned speakers and young scientists in Würzburg to exchange information on current developments in diagnostics and clinical practice in microbiology.

This year, we were excited to showcase our innovative invasive fungal infection diagnostic system LIMUSAVE MT-7500. It is a state-of-the-art system for measuring the pan-fungal biomarker beta-D-Glucan. This device has 10 measuring stations and can be expanded to 30. This means it can flexibly handle a low to high volume of tests simultaneously. More to that, LIMUSAVE MT-7500 measures the analyte quantitatively by a single test procedure, allowing for immediate and simple on-site testing by labs at medical centers.

Find out more about the LIMUSAVE MT-7500 here.

Filed under Blog Business Healthcare Innovation